Eco-mmunity to End Fossil Fuel

Brian Shiro's Page

Brian Shiro's Friends

Tell us about yourself, and why you support the renewable energy movement.: I currently work as a geophysicist at the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. I'm also a part-time distance student pursuing a masters in Space Studies at the University of North Dakota (expected 2009) and previously earned a certificate in Space Studies from the International Space University (2005). Prior to that, I earned bachelors degrees in Integrated Science, Geology, and Physics from Northwestern University (2000) and a masters in Earth & Planetary Sciences from Washington University (2002). I plan to eventually earn a Ph.D. in a space-related field. I've also worked at 3 different NASA centers (JSC, GSFC, JPL). Originally from Arkansas, I now hail from Hawaii, where I live with my wife and newborn son. I love traveling the world and have worked in the US, Canada, Alaska, Fiji, Tonga, Antarctica, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii. I've supported energy and resource conservation for as long as I can remember. My Eagle Scout project back in high school was helping to found my hometown's first recycling center.

How do you contribute?: Support new solar energy system installations with EFCs, Drive fuel-efficient vehicles, Support political action, Select low carbon footprint products, Support environmentally-conscious companies, Try to reduce-reuse-recycle, Support local sustainable agriculture, Reduce my junk mail and paper products

Do you have tips on how to conserve and be more energy-efficient?: Never accept plastic bags when shopping. Instead, bring your own. Always recycle. Try to buy products with responsible packaging. Whenever possible, buy locally produced food and other goods. If possible, live close to where you work or go to school so you can easily walk or bike for most of your transportation needs. Conserve energy by opening windows and running ceiling fans rather than the AC. Use Energy Star appliances, energy-saving settings on computers, and smart power strips that shut off power to devices when not in use. Install a solar water heater on your home, and if that's not feasible at least install a hot water heater timer on your existing unit. Support clean, renewable energy like solar, wind, and geothermal. Don't buy a SUV unless you absolutely need it for some reason. If you can, get a hybrid/electric car or at least a compact fuel-efficient conventional car. If you can afford it, buy carbon offsets when traveling, especially by airplane. If you have a baby, use cloth diapers rather than disposable ones. Conserve water by irrigating your lawn in the early morning or late evening, and turn off the water in the middle of your shower (between lathering and rinsing). Support eco-friendly organizations like the Sierra Club and political action to improve environmental protection. Spread the word ...

I added a post about End Fossil Fuel to my blog. Now, my blog's readers (all two of them) can be aware of this promising new social network.

Posted on April 27th, 2008 at 7:30pm — 1 Comment (Add)

At 10:22am on July 29th, 2008, David G said…: Brian are you wearing a helicopter helmet in your profile pic?

At 7:46pm on April 27th, 2008, ningcreator said…: world... not "word"... man, typos drive me crazy unless I don't see them.

At 7:45pm on April 27th, 2008, ningcreator said…: Oh, man, I hear you on the two (or three + house) body problem. If you ever are interested in coming this way though, just let me know. Zebker is really an awesome guy (even though he made me change my whole dissertation from third to first person two weeks before the signature deadline... it was the right thing to do, hehe). You sound like you'd be an excellent fit out here. There is family graduate housing (although it is not quite like a house... ). Any time you need a rec or feedback, just let me know! It's a small word in space-based remote sensing so maybe we'll end up collaborating on something down the road, even!

At 4:42pm on April 25th, 2008, ningcreator said…: So you really ARE in Hawaii now?!? And I have to say, if so I strongly appreciate the climate contrast between where you are now and where you're doing your degree! Seriously, if you're interested in future graduate work in geophysics with SAR, let me know... one of my advisors at Stanford was Howard Zebker, and his group does some really great work, both Earth-based and for Solar System Exploration. So definitely let me know if you're ever up in the Bay Area, maybe you could meet up with some of those folks if you haven't already... ? The School of Earth Sciences also has a lot of related fields, but I think you'd probably be a good match for Zebker's group if you're interested in space exploration.

At 2:40pm on April 24th, 2008, ningcreator said…: Hi Brian -- you work at NOAA? What are you doing there? Would be interesting to hear about, especially as I do remote atmospheric sensing, so I'd be interested in hearing more about your projects and interests as well as what it's like at NOAA.

At 3:45pm on April 23rd, 2008, J McKinley said…: Hey Brian, nice to see you joined up with us. We'd love to read some thoughts/blogs from a NOAA geophysicist, so let the science fly!